Reds prepare for Cup battle with Scots

15/12/2017

Jersey Reds will be wary of a London Scottish backlash when they travel to the Athletic Ground in Richmond this weekend.

Jersey registered a comfortable 45-10 win over the Exiles at Stade Santander International last Saturday in the first of back-to-back British & Irish Cup ties, but know their opponents are likely to be a different proposition on home turf.

The visiting party are ambitious to maintain a winning (three-from-three) record in this season's B&I Cup as they look to reach the knock-out stages for the third successive season. But they are aware that the Exiles can be tough opponents, and were relieved to come away with a 20-15 win when the two sides met in a Championship encounter in Jersey last month

There are seven changes to the Reds' XV who started last weekend's game, the majority among the forwards.

Prop Jake Woolmore comes into the front row, rotating the number 1 shirt and the captaincy with Roy Godfrey, and Jack Macfarlane gets the starting berth at hooker as Nick Selway switches to the bench. Jerry Sexton and James Voss are reunited in the engine room, while there's an opportunity for recent signing Jake Upfield, who is selected at flanker.

With fly-half Oli Bryant injured and forced off after just a quarter of last weekend's game, Brendan Cope reverts to his usual position from full-back. Jason Worrall moves from wing to full-back, leaving the way clear for top try-scorer Tom Pincus to return after illness. Summer signing Tim Duchesne is selected among the replacements - the scrum-half will be eager to impress in what will be his competitive debut for the Reds.

Prior to this season, the two sides had met on a dozen previous occasions, winning six apiece, since Jersey reached the Championship in 2012, a year after the Exiles had also achieved promotion from National 1. The Reds' first league win at this level was over the Scots at St Peter in 2012, but then the next five meetings went the way of the Londoners. The Reds achieved a double in 2015/16, and also gained three wins last season - one in the league and two in the B&I Cup, but arguably the most notable result was a thumping 10-36 win for the Exiles when they visited the Island in October 2016.

The final home game of 2017 will take place in a fortnight's time when Hartpury will visit the Island for a festive cracker of a match that will form the focal point of the Jersey Reds Christmas party. The party starts at 5pm on December 22nd, with kick-off under the Friday Night Lights at 7.45pm. Advance tickets for the match and for the festive marquee meal deal (£12 with all the trimmings) are available via Eventbrite - LINK